Lift for oil and other fluids



H. A. GEHRKE Feb. 19, 1963 LIFT FOR OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS Filed Feb. 10.1961 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. HERMAN A. GEHRKE fi j/ ATTORNEY FIG. 2

United States Patent 3,077,932 LET F03 OIL AND OTHER FLUIBS Herman A.Gehrhe, Rte. 1, Augusta, Kans. Filed Feb. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 88,541 3(Ilaiins. (til. 166-105) This invention relates to lifts, and moreparticularly to a rotary lift constructed and adapted to be used withoil wells and the like. In another aspect, the invention relates to acombination of means whereby chemicals and the like can be supplied to awell and fluids removed therefrom. In another specific aspect, theinvention relates to means for removing fluids fro-m an oil well wherebythe accumulation of paraffin and the like is eliminated and relativelygreat volumes of fluids can be removed from the well.

Heretofore various types of means have been provided to remove fluidsfrom a well. A common structure utilized today is a reciprocating typepump wherein the fluid is lifted only during half of the pumping cycle,which substantially reduces the total output of the well and theefliciency of the operation. Furthermore, since the fluids remainstationary during half of the pumping cycle, paraflin accumulates uponthe inner peripheral surfaces of the conduit. through which the fluid isbeing pumped, making it necessary to stop pumping operationsperiodically to remove the paraflin or provide the unit with complicatedparaflin scraping apparatus which at best is only partially effective.Furthermore, the relatively large amount of water present in many oldoil fields or in water flooding operations and the relatively smallvolume of fluid capable of being pumped by present apparatus results ina relatively small amount of oil being recovered in many instances,making it economically unsound or unprofitable to continue these pumpingoperations with the present day equipment. Thus, while water floodingoperations become increasingly used, particularly in the older fields,the pumping units commonly used are so inefiicient or inadequate to pumpthe relatively large amount of fluid resulting therefrom that profitableoperation is difiicult if not impossible to obtain.

The prior art devices in many instances are incapable of easily handlinggases within the well, such resulting in the so called gas lock whichfurther reduces pumping efficiency. Also, material of various types tendto accumulate at a lower portion of the well, such resulting fromcave-ins, scrapings, broken material accumulating in the well, etc., andas these materials pass or attempt to pass through the pumping unit theapparatus becomes clogged or wears excessively at valves, rubbers, etc.such causing the pumping operation to be periodically shut down to havethese members replaced. Furthermore, it is often desirable in pumpingoperations to force acid or fracturing material and the like into thewell to pass through the apertures or perforations in the well casinginto the oil bearing formations to release additional oil, and it ispresently the practice to remove the pumping apparatus from the Well inorder to accomplish this step, such removal causing considerable delayand unnecessary expense.

In accordance with the present invention new well pumping means areprovided which eliminate or substantially reduce the deficienciesapparent in the prior art devices. The new lift for oil and other fluidslifts a substantially greater volume of fluids from an oil well or thelike in substantially continuous manner which permits economicaloperation of heretofore unprofitable wells. Furthermore, the presentpumping means is so constructed as to continuously eliminate paraffin orthe accumulation thereof during operation of the device. Also, means areprovided to provide acids or fracturing 3,077,932 Patented Feb. 19, 1963"Ice material to the well periodically without the necessity of removingthe pumping means therefrom. Also, scrapings, sediment, and the like canbe removed from the Well as well as gases without any unusual orunnecessary wear occurring on the pumping apparatus, thus eliminatingthe down time for repairs required by the prior art devices.

The lift for oil wells and the like preferably includes a cylindricalmember, such as a pipe or the like, which is received within the oilwell. A spiral flight is preferably secure-d to the cylindrical memberor pipe so that upon rotation of the pipe fluids within the well will belifted therefrom. Openings are preferably provided at the bottom of thecylindrical member so that fluids can be pumped therethrough to passthrough the openings and into the oil bearing formations. The tubularmember and flight conveyor thereon is desirably rotatably mounted at thetop and bottom within a tubular member positioned within the well hole.A conduit is preferably provided which can be connected to an outlet oropening in the upper portion of the tubular member so that fluids liftedfrom the well can be directed to a suitable means for storage and/ orseparation of the oil from other fluids. Also, the cylindrical member ispreferably connected through suitable conduits to a tank so that acidsor fracturing material stored therein can be pumped or otherwiseprovided to the lower portion of the well.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new liftmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide new lift means for oil andother fluids wherein greater volumes of fluids can be pumped.

A further object of the invention is to providenew lift means for an oilwell which provides increased pumping volume and operates so as toprevent accumulation of paraflin within the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide new lift means for oilwells and the like having provision therewith to provide acids,fracturing materials, etc. to the well without the necessity of removingthe lift means therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide new lift means for wellswherein abrasive material's, sediment, and the like can be removedtherefrom without injury to the lifting apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for lifting fluidsfrom a well wherein the fluids are continuously being lifted.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially diagrammaticshowing lift means for oil and other fluids and illustrating apparatusto receive lifted fluids and to provide acids, fracturing material andthe like to the well.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view showinguthe liftmeans of FIG. 1 in operating position in a we FIG. 3 is a viewillustrating for the lift of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view showing the preferredbearing mounting means at the upper portion of the lift.

The following is adiscussion and description of a preferred specificembodiment of the new lift for oil and preferred powering means otherfluids of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawingswhereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same orsimilar parts and/or structure. It is tobe understood that with dis ofacids, oil, etc.

sprassa cussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, an elongated Well casing isshown at 14} which is the usual casingfound in oil wells, and the like.A tubular member 12 is preferably substantially coaxially received inthe casing and is dimensioned so as to be in spaced relation thereto.For example, when the casing 10 is approximately six inches in diameter,tubular member 12 can be approximately three inches in diameter. 'Thesedimensions can, of course, be widely varied. Tubular member 12 extendssubstantially the entire length of the well casing in as best shown inFIG. 2 and can project above the upper end portion thereof. Tubularmember 12 is provided with elongated slots as shown at 14 and desirablyat least two of these slots 14 are provided and are circumferentiallyequally spaced around the circumference of the member 12. Slot-s 14permit the passage of fluids into or out of casing 10.

A bearing block 16 is preferably provided and rigidly mounted in thelower end portion or bottom of the tubular member 12. The bearing block16 is preferably an acid resisting type since it will be subject to thepresence The block 16 is desirably formed with a recess 18' which ismost desirably formed in the shape .of-a portion of a sphere. Aspherical bearing or ball 20 can be seated in the recess 18 in block 16and is desirably approximately of the same diameter. Bearing or ball 20can be approximately one inch in diameter when tubular member 12 isapproximately three inches in diameter.

The upper end portion of the tubular member 12 is desirably providedwith an outlet or opening 22 in the side of the member 12 and a conduit24 can be secured to the opening 22 in any suitable manner, such as by athreaded connection, welding, etc.

An elongated member such as. pipe 26 is provided and .coaxiallypositioned Within the tubular member 12, ex-

tending substantially the length thereof and projecting above the upperend portion thereof. The pipe 26 can be closed at the lowerend thereofand a bearing block 28 is .desirably secured to the lower end of pipe26. Bearing block 28 has a recess 30in the shape of a p ortion of asphere which faces downwardly, the recesses 18 and 30 desirably being oflike radii and receiving the hearing or ball 20 to rotatably mount thepipe 26 within the tubular member 12. Bearing block28 is also preferablyformed of an acid resisting material.

'The' lower portion of pipe 26 is preferably provided with a pluralityof elongated slots 32, two of these slots being preferably providedwhich are diametrically spaced apart. Preferably, the slots 32 aresubstantially longitudinally aligned with the slots 14 in the tubularmember 12 as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The upper end portion of the tubular member 12 is preferably closed inany suitable manner, such as by the use of an annular cover 34 which isrigidly secured in its outer periphery to the tubular member 12.Anti-friction "means, such as the ball bearing unit shown generally at36 can be provided, such having the inner race 38 secured to the pipe 26and the outer race 40 secured to the cover member 34- with thecylindrical elements 4'2 permitting substantially frictionless rotationof the pipe 26. Suitable 'sealing means, (not shown) can be provided toseal the bearing unit 36 from dirt, fluids, etc.

A pulley'44 is secured to pipe 26 to turn-therewith, the pulley beinglocated at the upper end portion of the pipe 26 above the cover member34. Suitable power means,

such as electric motor 46 is provided and is operatively connected topulley 44 by a belt 48, chain means or the like so that upon operationof the motor 46 the pulley 44 will be rotated to turn the pipe 26. Motor46 can be mounted on or carried by a platform as shown at 47.

H A flightStl is provided anddesirably rigidly secured toand'spirallysurrounds the pipe 26, the flight preferably beingcontinuous from the lower end portion of the pipe 26 to the upper endportion thereof. Pipe 26 and flight 50 form a flight conveyor, theflight 50 being dimensioned so that the radially outer portion thereofis in close proximity with the inner surface of the tubular member 12.

In operation, electric motor 46 will rotate pulley 44 on pipe 26 to turnthe pipe and flight 50, such causing fluids in the lower end portion oftubular members 12 to be lifted by the flight conveyor upwardly to theupper end portion of tubular member 12 whereupon they are dischargedthrough the outlet of opening 22 in the conduit 24. The fluid can thenbe dispersed in the common manner, such being shown in FIG. 1 as beingdirected to a separation tank 52 where the oil is separated from saltwater and the like and taken from the separation tank through conduit 53into an oil receiving tank 54 or pumped to a collecting point in thecommon manner. Salt water and the like can be removed from theseparation tank through a conduit diagrammatically shown at 56, whichcan, in some instances, lead to a disposal well such as is commonly usedin water flooding operations.

The apparatus of the invention can also be used to supply acids,fracturing material and the like to the well. Tank 58 contains theseacids, fracturing materials, etc. and this material can be pumped bypump 60 through conduit 61 into the pipe or conduit 62 to passtherethrough and out of the elongated slots 32 and the lower end portionthereof, through slots 14 in tubular member 12 and through the usualperforations, in the well casing 10 into the oil' bearing formations.This step can, of course, be carried out without removing or otherwisemodifying the pumping structure, thus eliminating the usual shut downand removal of the pump from the well prior to providing additionalfracturing material to the oil bearing formation.

*Also, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by reversingthe direction of rotation of pipe 26 the fracturing materials or acidsshould be supplied through conduit 24 and forced downwardly by theaction of the flight member 5% to the lower end portion of the tubularmember 12 to pass therethrough slots 14 and into the oil bearingformations.

The lift means for oil wells and the like of the invention provides acontinuous movement of fluids from the lower end portion of tubularmember 12 upwardly to the conduit 24, thus eliminating the accumulationof paraflin normally occurring during the pumping of a well.Furthermore, the outer edge of flight 50 is desirably in close proximityto the inner surface of tubular member 12 so that should any paraflintend to collect thereon the continual rotation of the flight willoperate to continuously scrape or remove any parafi'in therefrom.Furthermore, the flight conveyor type lifting action can handlesediment, scrapings and the like Without injury.

In many oil fields, particularly the older fields, water floodingoperations are currently being used to a great extent. In these fields,it is not uncommon for as much as percent of the fluid pumped from thewell to be salt water or the like, such being pumped normally into aseparation tank as shown at 52 to remove the oil from the salt water.The relatively small volume of oil obtained by common pumping meansoften makes operations of these units economically unsound. Withapplicants device, on the other hand, substantially greater volumes offluid can be lifted, thus making previously uneconomical operationsprofitable. The present invention can, of course, be used in any type ofoil field, whether water flooding is being used or not. Also, applicantsflight conveyor type lift means can handle gas as well as oil Withoutencountering any difficulty, such being a problem in many fields wheregas lock occurs with normal suction pumps.

While the invention has been described particularly in connection with atubular member 12 located within a well casing 10, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that the tubular member 12 can be usedwithout the necessity of the normal well casing in many instances. It isnoted in this regard that should cave-ins or the like occur, the sand,etc. which would accumulate at the lower portion of the tubular member12 can be easily removed from the well by applicants device, while inthe normal pumping unit this sand would cause unnecessary and expensivewear on the pumping unit. As will be evident to those skilled in theart, various other modifications of the invention can be made, orfollowed, in the light of this description and discussion, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for lifting oil and other fluids from a well and for providingchemicals thereto comprising, in combination, an elongated well casingin the ground, a tubular member coaxially received in said casing inspaced relation thereto and extending substantially the entire lengththereof, said tubular member having a plurality of axially elongated andcircumferentially spaced slots in the lower end portion thereof, abearing block rigidly mounted in the bottom of said tubular member, saidbearing block having a spherical recess in the top surface thereof, aspherical bearing member seated in said recess, an outlet opening in theside of said tubular member near the upper end thereof, a conduitconnected to said opening and in fluid communication with said tubularmember, an elongated hollow pipe coaxially positioned and rotatablymounted in said tubular member and spaced from the inner surfacethereof, said pipe being closed at the lower end thereof, a bearingblock on the lower end of said pipe, a spherical recess in the lowersurface of said last-named bearing block, said spherical recesses insaid bearing blocks rotatably receiving said spherical bearing memberwith said bearing member supporting the weight of said pipe duringrotation thereof, two axially elongated and diametrically opposed slotsin the lower end portion of said pipe in longitudinal alignment withsaid slots in said tubular member, means constructed and adapted tocontain chemicals, said pipe being operatively connected in the upperend portion to said means to contain chemicals and operable to receivechemicals in said upper end portion thereof and discharge same therefromthrough said slots in said lower end portion of said pipe into saidtubular member, an annular cover closing said upper end of said tubularmember and having bearing means centrally therein positioned betweensaid cover and said pipe and rotatably receiving said upper end portionof said pipe, a pulley secured to said pipe to turn therewith at theupper end portion thereof above said casing and said cover, an electricmotor, a belt connecting the drive shaft of said electric motor and saidpulley to rotate said pipe, and a spiral flight rigidly secured to andspirally surrounding said pipe and extending continuously substantiallythe entire length of said pipe to form with said pipe 2. flightconveyor, said flight extending downwardly beyond said slots in saidpipe and said tubular member and terminating in closely spaced relationto said bearing block on said pipe, said flight conveyor beingdimensioned so as to be in close proximity with the inner surface ofsaid tubular member, said means being constructed and adapted so thatchemicals can be pumped through said pipe to the bottom thereof Wherethey are discharged through said slots in said lower end portion of saidpipe and pass through said slots in said tubular member, and when saidmotor is operating said pulley and said pipe will be rotated and fluidsin the bottom of said tubular member will be lifted by said flightconveyor and discharged through said outlet opening into said conduit,said flight conveyor in operation preventing the accumulation ofparaffin within said tubular member.

2. Means for lifting fluids from a well and for providing well treatingchemicals thereto comprising, in combination, an elongated well casingin the ground, a tubular member positioned within said casing in spacedrelation thereto, said tubular member having a plurality of axiallyelongated and circumferentially spaced slots in the lower end portionthereof, a bearing block mounted in the bottom of said tubular memberand having a spherical recess in the top surface thereof, a sphericalbearing member seated in said recess, an outlet opening in said tubularmember at the upper end portion thereof, a hollow pipe positioned withinsaid tubular member and spaced from the inner surface of said tubularmember, a bearing block on the lower end of said pipe having a sphericalrecess in the lower surface thereof and receiving said spherical bearingmember with said bearing member supporting the weight of said pipe uponrotation thereof during operation, at least one axially elongated slotin the lower end portion of said pipe positioned in substantiallongitudinal alignment with said slots in said tubular member, means forcontaining fluid chemicals, conduit means connecting said means forcontaining chemicals and an upper end portion of said pipe to passchemicals into the upper end portion of said pipe and downwardlytherethrough and discharge same therefrom through said slot in saidlower end portion of said pipe into said tubular member and through saidslots in said tubular member into said well casing, bearing meansconnected to said upper end portion of said pipe and said tubular memberto rotatably mount said pipe in said tubular member, power meansoperatively connected to said upper end portion of said pipe to rotatesame, and a spiral flight connected to and surrounding said pipe andextending continuously along substantially the entire length of saidpipe to form therewith a flight conveyor, said flight extendingdownwardly beyond said slots in said pipe and said slots in said tubularmember, said means being constructed and adapted so that chemicals canbe provided from said means for containing fluid chemicals through saidpipe to the bottom thereof for discharge through said slots in said pipeand said tubular member into said well casing, and when said power meansis operating, said pipe will be rotate-d and fluids in the bottom ofsaid tubular member will be lifted by said flight conveyor anddischarged through said outlet opening in said tubular member, saidflight conveyor in operation preventing an accumulation of paraffin andthe like within said tubular member.

3. Means for lifting fluids from a Well and for providing well treatingchemicals thereto comprising, in combination, a well hole in the ground,a tubular member positioned within said well hole in spaced relation tothe walls thereof, said tubular member having a plurality of spacedapertures therethrough in the lower end portion thereof, bearing meansmounted in the bottom of said tubular member, an outlet opening in saidtubular member at the upper end portion thereof, a hollow pipepositioned within said tubular member and spaced from the inner surfaceof said tubular member, bearing means on the lower end of said pipecooperatively engaging said bearing means mounted in the bottom of saidtubular member with said bearing means supporting the weight of saidpipe during rotation thereof in operation, at least one aperture in thelower end portion of said pipe providing a passageway for fluidcommunication between the inside of said pipe and the outside of saidtubular member through said apertures in said pipe and tubular member,means for containing fluid chemicals, conduit means connecting saidmeans for containing chemicals and an upper end portion of said pipe topass chemicals into said upper end portion of said pipe downward throughsaid pipe and discharge same therefrom through said aperture in saidlower end portion of said pipe into said tubular member and through saidaperatures in said tubular member into said well hole, bearing meansconnected to said upper end portion of said pipe and said tubular memberto rotatably mount said pipe in said tubular member, power meansoperatively connected to said upper end portion of said pipeto rotatesame, and a spiral being constructed and adapted so that chemicals canbe provided from said means for containing fluid chemicals through saidpipe to the bottom thereof where they are discharged through saidaperture in said lower end portion of said pipe and passed through saidapertures in said tubular member into said well hole to treat same, andwhen said power means is operating, said pipe will be rotated and fluidsin the bottom of said tubular member will be lifted by said flightconveyor and discharged through said outlet opening in said. tubularmember, said flight conveyor in operation preventing an accumulation ofparaifin and the like within said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSesgoffe Dec. 24, 1895 Tilden Apr. 17, 1906 Clark Aug. 13, 1907 AndersonSept. 4, 1928 Welsh July 10, 1934 Van Willigen Mar. 29, 1955 Nixon Aug.29, 1961 Weaver Dec. 26, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland May '1, 1935Canada Aug. 12, 1952 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1954

1. MEANS FOR LIFTING OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM A WELL AND FOR PROVIDINGCHEMICALS THERETO COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, ARE ELONGATED WELL CASINGIN THE GROUND, A TUBULAR MEMBER COAXIALLY RECEIVED IN SAID CASING INSPACED RELATION THERETO AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTHTHEREOF, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY ELONGATED ANDCIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED SLOTS IN THE LOWER END PORTION THEREOF, ABEARING BLOCK RIGIDLY MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAIDBEARING BLOCK HAVING A SPHERICAL RECESS IN THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF, ASPHERICAL BEARING MEMBER SEATED IN SAID RECESS, AN OUTLET OPENING IN THESIDE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER NEAR THE UPPER END THEREOF, A CONDUITCONNECTED TO SAID OPENING AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TUBULARMEMBER, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW PIPE COAXIALLY POSITIONED AND ROTATABLYMOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SPACED FROM THE INNER SURFACETHEREOF, SAID PIPE BEING CLOSED AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, A BEARINGBLOCK ON THE LOWER END OF SAID PIPE, A SPHERICAL RECESS IN THE LOWERSURFACE OF SAID LAST-NAMED BEARING BLOCK, SAID SPHERICAL RECESSES INSAID BEARING BLOCKS ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID SPHERICAL BEARING MEMBERWITH SAID BEARING MEMBER SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF SAID PIPE DURINGROTATION THEREOF, TWO AXIALLY ELONGATED AND DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED SLOTSIN